About Mount Zion · Seattle, Washington
Rooted in faith.
Open to the future.
A Christ-centered church with an African American heritage, a heart for Seattle, and a calling to care for the whole person. Since 1890, our story has been one of worship, learning, service, and hope.
Our mission
Mount Zion Baptist Church exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, develop mature Christian disciples, empower the hurting for victorious living, and seek God’s justice in the world.
Mark 16:15 · Matthew 28:19–20 · Matthew 25:34–40
Our vision
Mount Zion Baptist Church is called to be a Christ-Centered Church that addresses the needs of the total person through liberating worship, life-transforming Christian education, progressive and timely ministries and effective social activism.
Faith that reaches every part of life.
Faith in everyday life
A church for the whole person.
Our calling brings spiritual formation and practical care into the same life of faith.
Worship
Gather around Scripture, prayer, and music that points us toward Jesus Christ.
Worship with usLearning
Grow in Christian discipleship across generations, from children to lifelong learners.
Explore ministriesCare
Walk with neighbors through need, illness, and seasons of change.
Find supportJustice
Carry a legacy of service and civic engagement into the needs of our community.
Our living history
A Seattle story
Faith with a place
in the life of a city.
Mount Zion began with a small group of African Americans gathering for prayer in 1890 and was incorporated on February 18, 1894. Generations of families have carried that beginning forward through worship, education, and community service.
Under Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, the church became an important center of Seattle’s civil-rights life. His invitation brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Seattle in 1961.
Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board designated the church in 2017; the City’s landmark ordinance followed in 2018.
Explore the full timelineHistorical context: City of Seattle landmark record · City of Seattle: Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney.
Our beliefs & tenets
The faith that shapes us.
These statements reflect Mount Zion’s published beliefs and our commitment to following Jesus Christ.
God
We believe in one God in three persons: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, co-equal and co-eternal. God is the Creator of the universe, and human beings are made in God’s image with intellect, emotion, and will.
Genesis 1:26–27 · Luke 3:22
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is fully human and fully divine, the Son of God and God the Son, and God’s ultimate means of salvation for humanity. We affirm His virgin birth, sinless life, crucifixion, and resurrection.
Through His death and resurrection, atonement was made for the sins of the world. We believe He ascended to the Father and will return in power and glory.
John 1:1
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, our teacher and guide. The Spirit reminds, corrects, and encourages followers of Jesus and is God’s presence living with us, around us, and in us.
John 14:16–17, 26
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired, authoritative written Word of God, given to and interpreted by human writers moved by the Holy Spirit. Scripture guides daily life and bears witness to God’s acts in history.
As a predominantly African American church, we are mindful that Scripture has sometimes been misused to cause harm. We seek to use the Bible to inspire, instruct, and call all people into just relationships with God and one another.
2 Timothy 3:16 · 2 Peter 1:20–21
Salvation
We believe salvation and eternal life are God’s gift, received by grace through faith, not earned by works. We are saved for relationship with God, for living justly with creation, and for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
Ephesians 2:8–9 · Matthew 28:19–20
Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the church and a public sign of new life in Christ. Through full immersion, we identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Those who receive Jesus and commit to following Him are eligible for baptism. Baptism itself does not save us; it expresses an inward transformation.
Continue exploring
Many ways to know Mount Zion.
Meet our pastor
Get to know Reverend Charles Reginald Johnson, Sr., and the spiritual leadership that has shaped our church.
Our pastorsArt, faith & architecture
Discover the stories carried by our sanctuary’s wood, light, stained glass, and tapestry.
Explore the sanctuaryA place to belong
Come worship, ask questions, connect with a ministry, and find your next step in faith.
Join usThere is room for you here.
Join us Sunday at 10:00 AM Pacific, in person or online. We would love to welcome you.